Regional Health Status

Eastern North Carolina Compared to the Rest of the State, 2006 (rev. 03/11/08)

The eastern region of North Carolina continues to be less healthy than the rest of the state. In 2006, 20.0 % of Eastern North Carolinians reported their health as "poor or fair" compared to 17.0% of citizens in the rest of the state.1 Age-adjusted death rates are substantially greater in the 41-county Eastern North Carolina region than the rest of the state (59 counties) for virtually all major causes of death.2

Cause of Death

ENC41 to RNC59

ENC29 to RNC71

All Causes

10% greater

8% greater

Heart Disease

20% greater

13% greater

-Coronary Heart Disease

24% greater

12% greater

Cancer All Sites

8% greater

9% greater

-Cancer Trachea, Bronchus, Lung

6% greater

4% greater

-Cancer Colon, Rectum, Anus

8% greater

16% greater

-Cancer Female Breast

18% greater

18% greater

-Cancer Prostate

27% greater

27% greater

-Cancer Cervical

61% greater

27% greater

Stroke

6% greater

8% greater

COPD

6% lesser

11% lesser

Diabetes Mellitus

43% greater

29% greater

Other Unintentional Injuries

3% lesser

5% lesser

Unintentional Motor Vehicle Injuries

48% greater

21% greater

Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, nephrosis

20% greater

8% greater

Pneumonia and Influenza

22% lesser

8% lesser

Septicemia

19% greater

21% greater

Suicide

10% lesser

same

Homicide

36% greater

12% greater

HIV

44% greater

51% greater

In terms of premature mortality (i.e. years of life lost before age 75), the 2004 US data3 indicates North Carolina ranks 40th among the 50 states. With the exception of Virginia, North Carolina ranks above the other southern states (including Oklahoma).

If the 41-county Eastern North Carolina region were a state, it would rank 47th and would rank above Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and the District of Columbia. If the rest of North Carolina (59 counties) were considered alone, it would rank 34th, with a rate most similar to Maryland's.